PM condoles economist Amaresh Bagchi’s death

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the passing away of noted economist and member of Commission on Centre-State Relations Amaresh Bagchi, who died here Wednesday. In his message, Manmohan Singh described Bagchi as one of the most distinguished and influential fiscal policy experts in the country.

A professor emeritus, Bagchi was appointed member of the Commission on Centre-State Relations (with minister of state status) in July 2007. He was also former director of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.

Earlier, Bagchi was member of the 11th Finance Commission. An expert in public finance, in particular tax policy, tax administration and fiscal federalism, Bagchi wrote extensively on these subjects.

Bagchi is survived by his wife Ratna Bagchi and their two children.

The prime minister, himself an economist, said that he had the privilege of knowing Bagchi for a long time in various capacities.

“He has left a lasting imprint both in the field of academic research in fiscal policy as well as on public policy formulation.”

“It is no exaggeration to state that Amaresh has been associated with almost every major fiscal policy reform in the past 30 years,” Singh said.

“In his passing away, the country loses the experience and knowledge of one of our most distinguished fiscal policy experts,” he said.